23 June: Civic Council on European Democracy – Talks Across Europe #3: Warsaw, Poland

In the final session of the Civic Council on European Democracy - Talks across Europe, we discuss with prominent Polish and other European thinkers how culture and the media can, on the one hand, safeguard democratic values, but on the other hand, be effective propaganda tools for radical-right wing politicians to spread populism and nationalism.

Over three decades after its first free democratic election, Poland’s meticulously built democracy and civil society are facing extreme challenges. Since 2015, Poland has registered an exceptional degree of decline in democratic quality, looking at the electoral process, media freedom, and judicial review. During this period, the rule of law, human rights, minority rights and the free press have been violated by the ruling right-wing government.

Given these crucial challenges for Polish society that are also found in other European countries, the role of culture and free media in sheltering the values of democracy has become more evident. Especially in these times of ever-increasing polarization between pro-and anti-democratic forces both leveraging cultural trends and the media to further their own political agenda. What is the role of culture and the media in protecting democracies both in Poland and Europe and how can they contribute to the idea of ‘a European demos’?

Watch back the sessions from Amsterdam and Palermo